Wood River approves sale of Aquatic Center supplies, equipment

Kelsey Schulz, kschulz@thetelegraph.com

Published
3:23 pm CDT, Friday, July 20, 2018

In this 2016 file photo, two kids try to keep their heads above water as they hit the bottom of the water slide at the Wood River Aquatic Center. The city moved forward with the removal of the Aquatic Center this week, approving sale of equipment and supplies from the pool.

In this 2016 file photo, two kids try to keep their heads above water as they hit the bottom of the water slide at the Wood River Aquatic Center. The city moved forward with the removal of the Aquatic Center

In this 2016 file photo, two kids try to keep their heads above water as they hit the bottom of the water slide at the Wood River Aquatic Center. The city moved forward with the removal of the Aquatic Center this week, approving sale of equipment and supplies from the pool.

In this 2016 file photo, two kids try to keep their heads above water as they hit the bottom of the water slide at the Wood River Aquatic Center. The city moved forward with the removal of the Aquatic Center

WOOD RIVER — The Wood River Aquatic Center moved one step closer to the end this week.

The city approved an ordinance declaring supplies and equipment as surplus, authorizing the sale of those items. Mayor Cheryl Maguire said some of the equipment is only applicable for commercial facilities, noting the city has been in contact with Grafton’s Raging Rivers as well as with a pool up north.

“Parks and Recreation Director Jason Woody has notified all of those and regional organizations and those that have pools,” Maguire said.

Maguire said a lot of the items are unique and won’t be able to be used for residential pools. “Our diving boards, which are newer, are way too big and heavy for a residential pool. There’s also the filtration system as well as the pumps and valves, which can be quite expensive.”

Maguire said residents have come forward asking about lounge chairs that were in good condition. “It’s kind of piecemeal,” she said. “Everything that we could use in other places has been removed from the pool, and we also have to focus on lighting.

“We can’t just go in and shut down everything,” she said. “The lights have to be operable, because we want that area to be safe. We will have to do some adjustments on what circuits are left open.”

Maguire said all the money from the sale of the items will go back into the budget.

After all the items are sold, the next step will be to dismantle the slide.

“We have examined the most economical way to start dismantling the property so that land can be cleared and made ready for use,” she said. “The slide will have to be taken out by an outside company who specializes in that, but with some other things, our own city crew can do themselves and we can be modest on the cost there.”

The hope is to have the overhaul project completed by winter, Maguire said.

“Our goal is to get this completed before the winter weather hits,” she said. “We certainly don’t want that area to be a hazard or an eyesore.”

Along with dismantling the slide and selling the equipment, Maguire said they have to remove all of the concrete and dispose of it according to EPA regulations.

“It’s a lot more complicated than just going in and knocking it down,” said Maguire.

While there is no plan set in place for that lot, Maguire said she is hopeful. “We are no different from surrounding communities who have had to close their pools as well,” she said. “We are currently exploring other avenues because we want to have amenities for the community.”